Xiazhi felt a complicated mix of emotions.
If she were just an ordinary first-rank maid, she could rely on her young lady’s influence, live a dignified life with her head held high.
When the young lady married, she would rightfully be her trusted aide; with luck, she might even become a concubine…
Because an ordinary first-rank maid, as long as she didn’t betray her mistress, could secure a certain, happy future.
But she wasn’t an “ordinary” first-rank maid. She and her young lady, Sheng Mingzhu, shared the same father and mother; they were biological sisters.
A series of twists of fate had led to the current situation.
Now, Sheng Mingzhu found her presence grating and refused to trust her with important tasks; her life in the mansion couldn’t compare to that of other first-rank maids.
She also couldn’t bring herself to see Sheng Mingzhu as her true master.
In the past, Xiazhi might have asked her mother to plead on her behalf, but now… even her mother hated her…
Xiazhi felt she was living in uncertainty, without a shred of security.
So, seeing Qingxin become the Eldest Young Master’s woman and so doted upon, feelings of envy, jealousy, helplessness, and powerlessness all washed over her.
Just then, she spotted Xiaoque, who was now the maid serving Qingxin.
As soon as Xiaoque entered, a matron greeted her with a smile.
“Miss Xiaoque is here…”
Although Qingxin held no official title, the Madam had allocated her a courtyard and sent maids to serve her.
Now that Qingxin had also won the Eldest Young Master’s favor, everyone in the mansion believed a concubine title for her was inevitable.
The kitchen staff were best at reading the wind, so naturally they wouldn’t slight anyone from Qingxin’s courtyard.
Though it was well past breakfast time, Qingxin could order food whenever she wished.
And Qingxin was growing less and less reserved. Nowadays, Xiaoque came to place orders two out of every three visits.
“My mistress has no appetite. She just told me she doesn’t want porridge, noodles, or fried things. She fancies something fresh and light, even if it takes more time…”
A supervising matron stopped her work, wiped her hands clean on her apron, came forward, and suggested with a smile,
“We managed to buy a large piece of beef today, quite rare. We were just preparing to braise it.
“If your mistress wants a change of taste, how about I cut a small piece to make beef dumplings—”
Beef was hard to come by. Sheng Yong loved braised beef with his wine, and Sheng Mingjian and his brothers were also fond of beef.
So any beef in the mansion was usually reserved for the brothers. This matron daring to use beef for Qingxin made even Xiaoque hesitate.
The matron added, “Don’t worry, Miss Xiaoque. We got more beef than usual today. Cutting a small piece won’t matter…
“Besides, we have fresh fish and shrimp. We could also make a steamed egg custard with minced fish, and a cold noodle salad with shrimp—perfectly refreshing in this weather—”
Xiaoque smiled too and nodded eagerly.
“Those three dishes sound perfect. Also, could you prepare some sweetened cow’s milk? Not too much sugar, please. My mistress doesn’t like it too sweet—”
The supervising matron promptly agreed. Thinking Xiaoque, who attended Qingxin, probably hadn’t eaten yet, she quickly had someone bring over some breakfast items for her.
There was meat porridge, steamed buns, sweet soy milk…
In the past, Xiaoque could never have eaten such fine things. But life recently had elevated Xiaoque to a level of luxury she’d never known.
She couldn’t help but marvel inwardly: being favored was truly wonderful.
Neither Xiaoque nor Qingxin knew that their comfortable life wasn’t due to Qingxin winning Sheng Mingjian’s favor.
It was because Sheng Minmin had secretly given silver to the kitchen stewardess, instructing her to take good care of Qingxin.
Give Qingxin whatever she wanted to eat; cost was no concern. In short, she must not be treated poorly.
It was Sheng Minmin’s “special treatment” of Qingxin that made the kitchen staff so attentive to Qingxin and her courtyard.
Otherwise, even if Qingxin was favored by the young master, her dining treatment wouldn’t be this lavish…
Most others in the mansion didn’t know about the Madam’s instructions. The few who did likely assumed the Madam was doing it for the Eldest Young Master’s sake.
This only fueled the servants’ desires and ambitions to compete for favor.
After finishing her breakfast, Xiaoque felt thoroughly satisfied.
Seeing a maidservant packing up Sheng Mingzhu’s bird’s nest soup, and Xiazhi listlessly waiting beside her, Xiaoque—perhaps emboldened by the kitchen’s initiative to use beef for Qingxin—had a thought and spoke up.
“Oh, it’s Sister Xiazhi. Are you here to fetch the red bird’s nest for the Sixth Young Lady again?”
Xiazhi wasn’t familiar with Xiaoque and nodded indifferently. Xiaoque continued,
“I hear red bird’s nest is the most nourishing for the complexion. No wonder the Sixth Young Lady’s beauty is so well-maintained…
“Speaking of which, my mistress hasn’t been sleeping well lately. She’s starting to look quite worn…
“If she could also have some nourishing delicacies… it should be good for her health…”
Hearing this, Xiazhi’s expression instantly changed. She demanded sharply, “What do you mean by that?”
“Sister Xiazhi, what’s wrong? I didn’t mean anything, I was just chatting—”
Xiaoque played innocent.
Her attitude infuriated Xiazhi. Qingxin still had no official title or status—what kind of ‘mistress’ was she?
A maid gets a little leverage for a couple of days and becomes unbearably arrogant, not worried that her worthless bones can’t handle such sudden fortune and she’ll fall from grace and break her neck—
A stream of curses rose to her throat, but Xiazhi held them back.
Recently, Qingxin was riding too high; she didn’t dare offend her lightly.
She could only swallow her anger and let out a cold laugh.
A matron nearby hurried to smooth things over. “Miss Xiaoque, if your mistress wishes to have red bird’s nest, I’ll soak some right away. It’ll be ready by evening—”
“Then I’ll trouble you, Matron.”
Xiaoque nodded calmly, though inwardly she was thrilled.
She had only meant to test whether the main kitchen would prepare red bird’s nest for them.
If not, it wouldn’t have mattered. She hadn’t expected a few words to make the kitchen staff offer it willingly…
Such a luxury as red bird’s nest—her mistress could have it from now on.
As her mistress’s treatment improves, her own would improve too.
Xiaoque felt her back straighten a little more, looking at Xiazhi with a hint of disdain.
“A dog relying on its master’s power—”
Before leaving, Xiazhi couldn’t help but spit out the insult, her heart burning with rage, beneath which lay a thick layer of sour envy.
Soon, what happened in the main kitchen reached Sheng Minmin’s ears.
She couldn’t help but laugh upon hearing it.
She hadn’t expected to have nurtured Qingxin into such arrogance in such a short time.
Now, most maids in the mansion wanted to become the next Qingxin, dressing up prettily every day and casting flirtatious glances at Sheng Mingjian and his two brothers.
Under these circumstances, she didn’t believe Qiuju and Dongkui, the maids serving Sheng Mingyi and Sheng Mingbo, could continue suppressing their ambitions as before.
She had nurtured them long enough; it was time for them to come out and stir up some trouble.
They needed to create some headaches for Sheng Mingyi and Sheng Mingbo.
As for Sheng Mingjian, he was completely unable to resist Qingxin’s allure.
These past few nights, he had summoned Qingxin every night, indulging in debauchery until dawn—
Outwardly, Sheng Mingjian now appeared vigorous and spirited, but he was actually draining his vitality.
Qingdai said that at this rate, within another year, Sheng Mingjian would lose his ability to father children.
If he continued without restraint afterward, his bodily functions would decline precipitously—
His eyesight and hearing would fail, his memory would go, his legs would tremble when walking…
No matter how clever and capable Sheng Mingjian once was, what use would it be then?
If Qingdai hadn’t said the key ingredient for that secret medicine was extremely hard to find, Sheng Minmin would have loved to find another enemy, turn them into another “Qingxin,” and send them to Sheng Yong’s side…
Ah, what a pity.
Thinking this, Qingxin seemed even more “precious.”
Sheng Minmin felt she must “maintain” this weapon, Qingxin, properly. She might still prove useful in the future.
